Offscreen

VIDEO GAMES & FILM: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Video games ceased long ago to be niche entertainment. Now they're for all ages, whether played on smartphones, PCs or games consoles, and ranging from high-profile prestige productions such as Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption to simple puzzle fun like Candy Crush. From the creation of video games such as 1972's Pong and consoles such as the Atari 2600 in 1977, the game industry has evolved into the giant it is today, with an annual turnover of more than 100 billion dollars.

Video games and films share a long and interesting relationship. Thanks to improvements in graphics and processor speeds, today's generation doesn't see much difference between games and movies, apart from the games being interactive. A couple of decades ago, it was hard to imagine that games would one day be as overwhelming and visually impressive as any Hollywood blockbuster. At the same time, film adaptations of well-known video games have often been underwhelming. No other genre is as littered with quite so many turkeys and box-office flops.

This international conference examines the relationships between video games and film in more detail, especially in the field of adaptation. The following speakers will share the stage: